Netanyahu’s main challenger accuses him of prioritising ‘political survival’ rather than Israel’s security

ROSH HAAYIN, Israel — Gadi Eisenkot, the leading challenger to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized his predecessor for prioritizing political survival over national security during a rally in central Israel on September 8. In his speech unveiling the candidates for the Yashar party, Eisenkot, a former military commander, did not address his plans for addressing the Palestinian issue or the wars against Iran and Lebanon initiated by Netanyahu, but he accused the prime minister of evading responsibility since the Hamas attack nearly three years ago.

Yashar, a relatively new political party founded a year ago, has gained significant traction in recent months, with many voters perceiving Eisenkot as a credible candidate to replace Netanyahu, thanks to his strong military background. At the rally in Rosh Haayin, Eisenkot pledged to put an end to the divisions that have plagued the country since October 7, 2023, following the Hamas attack, where numerous Israeli hostages were held captive, and to other fronts.

He emphasized the need for leadership capable of rising to the magnitude of the moment, uniting the nation, and restoring the principles of stateliness and Zionism. According to a recent poll by Israel's public broadcaster Kan, Yashar is projected to secure 23 Knesset seats out of 120, narrowly edging out Netanyahu's Likud party, which is forecasted to win 20 seats.

The anti-Netanyahu bloc is anticipated to secure 51 seats, while Likud and its coalition partners are expected to claim 52 seats in total. This outcome means that neither bloc would possess the 61-seat majority required to govern without the support of unaligned parties, including two Arab-majority lists collectively holding 13 seats.